European road to Women's World Championship 2015 has begun

At the draw on Tuesday in Vienna for the first phase of the European qualification, these 14 teams got to know their opponents.

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

Slovenia

Turkey

FYR Macedonia

Czech Republic

Belarus

Austria

Iceland

Lithuania

Switzerland

Portugal

Italy

Azerbaijan

Greece

Israel

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Matches will be played in two groups of four teams and two groups of three teams. The winners of each group qualify for the European play-off matches.

From these play-off matches nine teams will qualify for the Women's World Championship, in addition to Denmark as organiser, and the winner of the Women's EHF EURO 2014 in Hungary and Croatia (or second placed team should Denmark win the European title).

The federations of the teams in each group of Phase 1 may decide to play their matches in the format of a tournament in one venue or on a home and away basis.

The playing periods for home and away matches are 8 to 12 October 2014, 26 to 30 November 2014 and 3 to 6 December 2014. If the teams opt for the tournament format the playing dates are 26 to 30 November 2014 or 3 to 6 December 2014.

The draw for the European play-off matches will take place on the final weekend of the Women's EHF EURO 2014 on 21 December 2014.

The play-offs will be played on the weekends of 6/7 and 13/14 June 2015.